Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday ordered a massive relief and rescue operation in the state after conducting an aerial survey of the flood affected areas, as the death toll mounted.
A total of eight districts are currently reeling under flood badly affecting a population of around two million. Floods have claimed a total of 22 lives so far, according to an official report.
“The floods situation is grave in certain areas of the state but we have launched efforts to provide all relief to the victim families,” disaster management secretary Vyasji told the media today, emerging out a meeting of officials with chief minister. The official said several villages had been cut off by floods which have also damaged many roads.
Authorities said the flood situation was serious in Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Araria, Darbhanga, Madhepuram Bhagalpur and Supaul whereas the three more districts face flood threat owing to continuing rains in the catchment areas of Nepal.
Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the state government intensified patrolling along the Kosi embankment, cancelled leaves of engineers and ordered the officials to camp in their respective districts.
Floods have affected a total population of around two million settled in 1500 villages across eight districts, a report of state disaster management department said.
Harried villagers were hurriedly fleeing homes, leaving behind belongings as their villages have got submerged in flood water. The flood situation is more serious in eastern Bihar districts having high concentration of Muslim population.
Officials said so far more than 150,000 people have been evacuated and kept in 357 relief centres set up by the state government.
Authorities have pressed more than 700 boats into service and also alerted the army. The gravity of the situation is underlined from the fact that all the major rivers are currently flowing over danger mark, literally robbing off sleep of the authorities and villagers alike.
“We could not sleep the whole night and continuing keeping a watch on the water level of Valmikinagar barrage,” said water resources department’s engineer-in-chief Indu Bhushan Kumar. The water level in the barrage has suddenly swelled following heavy rains in the catchment areas of Kosi in Nepal and resultant high discharge in the barrage over Gandak river in West Champaran district.
